‘‘I HAVE no time for petty quarrelling because am not scared of anybody wishing to challenge me and those who are sending falsehoods about me that I have expelled some UPND members in Kalomo are worried about me,’’ UPND Kalomo Central Member of Parliament Request Muntanga has charged.

Reacting to yesterday’s story in which some sources have accused him of engineering the suspension of Kalomo district chairperson Harry Kamboni from the UPND, Mr. Muntanga said the letter written by the UPND Kalomo constituency leadership had nothing to do with him.

Mr Kamboni has openly declared interest in the Kalomo seat in the 2016 parliamentary elections.

Mr Muntanga explained that he did not have any powers to suspend anyone from the party and that those insinuating that he was unpopular should explain their measurement of popularity since he was still member of Parliament.

“I do not want to be dragged into petty quarrels with anybody. I do not have the power to discipline anyone and the letter that was written to the provincial executive had nothing to do with me. If people are claiming that am unpopular, they should explain what they mean because am still MP for Kalomo.

“I defeated all those they are saying are popular and am still MP. So, where is their popularity if they are popular? So, which revolt are those people talking about? Have you heard of any revolt yourself?” Mr. Muntanga asked.

Mr. Muntanga explained that he wanted to work with the people in Kalomo to foster development instead of being dragged into petty issues at the expense of development.

He said he had the mandate to work for the people that put him into office and that he would not be distracted by people who were in the habit of talking about divisions which were non-existent but were merely aimed at brewing confusion in the party.

“Talk to the grassroots to have a clear-cut answer to the purported divisions which are being peddled by some people. There are no divisions as far as I am concerned,’’ Mr Muntanga said.

The UPND in Kalomo is reported to be divided into two camps with one group supporting incumbent MP Muntanga, while the other one is supporting suspended district chairperson Harry Kamboni.